Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meistadi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the Floribunda Class is provided which abundantly forms attractive double purple-violet blossoms that well retain their coloration. The buds are globular in configuration and are borne on strong stems that are capable of supporting a heavy inflorescence. A bushy growth habit is exhibited. The foliage is rather dense and dark green and contrasts nicely with the purple-violet blossoms. The plant is well suited for the production of cut floral sprays under greenhouse growing conditions.

Botancial/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meistadi’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the ‘Miebarke’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,791). The maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the product ofthe cross of the ‘Savadream’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,757) and the‘Meiptima’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,025). The parentage of thenew variety can be summarized as follows:

‘Meibarke’×(‘Savadream’×‘Meiptima’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of floribunda rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms strong stems that are capable of supporting a heavyinflorescence,

(b) displays in abundance attractive double purple-violet blossoms inthe form of a spray that retain their coloration well,

(c) exhibits a bushy growth habit, and

(d) forms attractive rather dense semi-glossy dark green foliage.

The purple-violet spray inflorescence coloration contrasts nicely withthe rather dense dark green foliage.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itis particularly well-suited for use in the production of cut floralsprays under greenhouse growing conditions.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom its ancestors. More specifically the ‘Meibarke’ variety isminiature, forms bicolored red flowers with cream petal margins, anddisplays a lesser petal number of approximately 15 on average. The‘Savadream’ variety also is miniature, forms medium pink flowers, anddisplays a lesser petal number of approximately 20 on average. The‘Meiptima’ variety additionally is miniature, forms lavender flowers,and displays a lesser petal number of approximately 37 to 39 on average.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in France hasshown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictlytransmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meistadi’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age were observed during Aprilwhile growing on Rosa indica understock in greenhouses at LeCannet desMaures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are shown at the bottomof the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower during the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—planview—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—planview—under surface;

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—planview—upper surface; and

FIG. 17—illustrates a specimen of a cluster of buds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). When more common colorterms are utilized they are to be accorded customary dictionarysignificance. The description is based on two year-old specimens of thenew variety which were observed during August while budded on Rosaindica understock and growing in greenhouses at LeCannet des Maures,Var, France.

Class: Floribunda.

Plant:

Height.—approximately 70 cm when the petals begin to open.

Width.—Approximately 50 cm on average.

Habit.—Bushy.

Branches:

Color.—Young stems: medium green, near Yellow-Green Group 146A. Adultwood: medium green, near Green Group 137B.

Thorns.—Size: both long and short prickles commonly are present.Configuration: generally straight on the upper surface and slightlyconcave on the under surface. Color: on young stems near Grey-BrownGroup 199D and slightly suffused with Greyed-Red Group 181D, and nearGreyed-Red Group 181D on adult stems. Quantity: on 20 cm of young stemsapproximately 5 to 6 long prickles greater than 5 mm commonly appear andapproximately 12 prickles less than 5 mm commonly appear, and on 26 cmof adult stems approximately 7 to 8 long prickles greater than 5 mmcommonly appear and approximately 7 prickles less than 5 mm commonlyappear.

Leaves:

Petioles.—Slightly glandular, smooth, approximately 0.8 cm in length onaverage, and the coloration is near Green Group 137B on the uppersurface and near Yellow-Green Group 144B on the under surface.

Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, and narrow.

Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: generally ellipticwith an acute tip and an obtuse base. Size: the terminal leaflet isapproximately 3 to 3.5 cm in length on average and approximately 2 cm inwidth on average. Texture: smooth and relatively thick. Serration: smalland single. General appearance: very dense, dark green, and semi-glossy.Color (young foliage): Upper surface: near Green Group 137C and lightlysuffused with anthocyanin coloration of Greyed-Red Group 178B. Undersurface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B. Color (adult foliage): Uppersurface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: near Yellow-GreenGroup 147B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 2 to 7 per stem and sometimessingly.

Peduncle.—Rigid, near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration, hairy withtiny prickles, and the length is approximately 4.5 to 5.5 cm on average.

Sepals.—Upper surface: tomentose, and near Green Group 138A to 138C incoloration. Under surface: glabrous and near Yellow-Green Group 144A incoloration. Commonly three sepals have weak extensions and two sepalshave no extensions.

Buds.—Shape: globular. Size: small. Length: approximately 2.5 cm onaverage. Color: as the calyx breaks near Greyed-Purple Group 186D on theupper surface and near Greyed-Purple Group 186C and 186D on the undersurface.

Flower.—Form: umbrella-shaped. Diameter: approximately 6 to 7 cm onaverage. Stem length: flowering stems commonly measure approximately 30to 45 cm in length. Color (when open): Upper surface: near Greyed-PurpleGroup 186D. Under surface: near Greyed-Purple Group 186D. Size of petalspot at base: small. Color of petal spot at base: near Yellow-WhiteGroup 158B on both surfaces. Fragrance: none. Petal number:approximately 100 on average under normal growing conditions. Petalconfiguration: wedge-shaped with slight undulation at the opening of thesepals, light reflexing of the margin at the beginning of petal opening,and more pronounced reflexing when petals are fully open. Arrangement:imbricated and commonly without petaloids at the center. Texture: thickpetals. Petal drop: good, the petals commonly detach cleanly. Anthers:near Yellow-Orange Group 18A in coloration. Stamen number: approximately150 on average. Filaments: near Yellow Group 2D in coloration,approximately 0.5 to 0.6 cm in length on average, and regularly arrangedaround styles. Pollen: moderate in quantity and near Yellow Group 12D incoloration. Pistil number: approximately 90 on average. Stigmas: nearYellow-Orange Group 16D tinted with Red Group 51D. Styles: nearYellow-Orange Group 16D in coloration, and approximately 0.3 to 0.4 cmin length on average. Receptacle: smooth, near Yellow-Green Group 144Ain coloration, funnel-shaped, approximately 0.4 cm in length on averageand approximately 1.2 cm in width on average. Lasting quality: verylong, approximately 20 days on average on the plant, and approximately12 to 14 days on average when cut and placed in a vase.

Development:

Vegetation.—Medium.

Blooming.—Abundant and nearly continuous.

Resistance to diseases.—Good with respect to Powdery Mildew understandard greenhouse growing conditions.

Aptitude to bear fruit.—No hips have been observed to date undergreenhouse growing conditions.

Aptitude to forcing.—Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of floribunda rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) formsstrong stems that are capable of supporting a heavy inflorescence, (b)displays in abundance attractive double purple-violet blossoms in theform of a spray that retain their coloration well, (c) exhibits a bushygrowth habit, and (d) forms attractive rather dense semi-glossy darkgreen foliage; substantially as herein shown and described.